READ THE CITIZENS' VOICE

Digital Only Subscription
Read the digital e-Edition of The Citizens' Voice on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at citizensvoice.com or on our mobile apps.

Digital Services
Have news alerts sent to your mobile device or email, read the e-Edition, sign up for daily newsletters, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

Contact Us
See department contacts, frequently asked questions, request customer service support, submit a photo or place an ad.

"They're doing exactly what they need to do: get it to the curb," he said during a tour of the township's flood-plagued West Nanticoke section.

In the wake of the most severe flooding since Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972, residents are contacting insurance providers to find out what is and isn't covered by their policies. Luzerne County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Bekanich estimated at least 2,500 to 3,000 structures had varying degrees of damage.

The first thing to do after a flood is to call your insurance provider, then start cleaning up immediately to avoid mold - but document everything, Sweet said.

That's what Susan Lore did as soon as the Susquehanna River water receded at her East Poplar Street home.

According to the National Flood Insurance Program, there are 107 policies in the township. Supervisor Chairwoman Gale Conrad estimates about 100 homes and businesses were affected.

Lore, who lost everything in her basement and first floor, took photographs of all her damaged possessions in the house and after they were piled on the curb. "I pay a lot for insurance. They better give me something," Lore said.

Unlike in Plymouth Township, which is out of the levee protection zone, in Duryea, 339 structures were affected by flooding, but only 28 people had flood insurance.

People didn't think they needed it if they were protected by the dike around the borough, Duryea Emergency Management Coordinator Frank Groblewski said.

By contrast, the municipality of Kingston has the highest number of flood insurance policies in Luzerne County - 2,416 altogether - but no major damage.

"We had a couple of basement floodings, but minor. No major floodings at all," Kingston Administrator Paul Keating said.

In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agnes, which devastated the West Side before the levee system was installed, people in its communities bought flood insurance policies and do so until this day.

"I'm one of them. After this storm, I'll never give it up," Keating said.

In Forty Fort, where minor basement flooding was also reported, there are 747 flood insurance policies, and 255 in Edwardsville, where the only structures affected by flooding were Valenti's junkyard and stores in the Mark Plaza.

In Wilkes-Barre, which has 1,819 flood insurance policies, Administrative Coordinator Drew McLaughlin said a preliminary estimate found 162 residential properties were impacted by creek and stormwater flooding.

Mortgage companies may require flood insurance in flood plains, but if you don't have a mortgage, you don't have to have it. But it doesn't matter even if you're out of the flood zone, Sweet said: you never know where disaster will strike. For example, July 3 flash flooding affected parts of Plymouth Borough and Plymouth Township that usually don't flood.

"I encourage anyone who lives anywhere, unless you're in a high-rise in Manhattan on the 20th floor, to buy flood insurance," Sweet said. "If you're in a low-risk flood plain, the rates are very reasonable."

Flood insurance is regulated by FEMA but sold through insurance agencies. Homeowners, business owners and even renters can get it. It's available for the structure, the contents or both. How much you pay depends on how much of a flood risk your property has.

The insurance kicks in for flood damage to the first floor and above. If your basement floods, insurance usually only covers items such as the furnace and water heater. Sweet recommends checking with your agent to see what is and isn't covered.

Richard and Beverly Sokolowski have flood insurance on their East Poplar Street home, which took on water almost to the second floor. Beverly Sokolowski showed how the water had undone recent renovations: the carpet was ruined, the sheetrock had dissolved in spots, the bathroom cabinets were warped.

"How much money are you going to get to replace all this?" she said. "Everything's gone."

The gravel washed away from the Sokolowskis' driveway and their yard took all day for the Spring Brook Fire Co. to pump out.

"You're lucky if they cover a third of your expenses," Richard Sokolowski added.

eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072For information on flood insurance, visit www.fema.gov or www.floodsmart.gov, or call the National Flood Insurance Program at 1-800-427-4661.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.